Pyloroplasty

Pyloroplasty is surgery to widen the opening in the lower part of the stomach (pylorus) so that stomach contents can empty into the small intestine (duodenum) more easily.

The pylorus is a thick, muscular area. When it thickens or its opening narrows, food cannot pass through normally.

The surgery is done while you are under general anesthesia (asleep and pain free).

If you have open surgery, the surgeon:

• Makes a large surgical cut in your belly to open the area.
• Cuts through some of the thickened muscle where your stomach empties so it becomes wider.
• Closes the cut in a way that keeps the pylorus open. This allows the stomach to empty more easily.

Surgeons can also do this surgery using a laparoscope. A laparoscope has a tiny camera that is inserted into your belly through a small cut. Video from the camera will appear on a monitor in the operating room. The surgeon views the monitor to do the surgery. During the surgery:

• Three to five small cuts are made in your belly. The camera and other small tools will be inserted through these cuts.
• Your belly will be filled with gas to allow the surgeon to see the area and perform the surgery with more room to work.
• The pylorus is operated on as described above.

Pyloroplasty is used to treat complications in people with peptic ulcers or other stomach problems that cause a blockage of the stomach outlet opening.

Risks for anesthesia and surgery in general are:

• Reactions to medicines or breathing problems
• Bleeding, blood clots, or infection

Risks of this surgery include:

• Damage to the intestine or nearby organs
• Hernia
• Leakage of stomach contents
• Long-term diarrhea
• Malnutrition
• Vomiting
• Dumping syndrome (when food moves too rapidly from the stomach to the duodenum)

Tell your surgeon or nurse if:

• You are or could be pregnant
• You are taking any medicines, including medicines, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription
• You have been drinking a lot of alcohol, more than 1 or 2 drinks a day

Planning for your surgery:

• If you have diabetes, heart disease, or other medical conditions, your surgeon may ask you to see the provider who treats you for these conditions.
• If you smoke, it's important to cut back or quit. Smoking can slow healing and increase the risk for blood clots. Ask your provider for help quitting smoking.
• If needed, prepare your home to make it easier to recover after surgery.
• Ask your surgeon if you need to arrange to have someone drive you home after your surgery.

During the week before your surgery:

• You may be asked to temporarily stop taking medicines that keep your blood from clotting. These medicines are called blood thinners. This includes over-the-counter medicines and supplements such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and vitamin E. Many prescription medicines are also blood thinners.
• Ask your surgeon which medicines you should still take on the day of surgery.
• Let your surgeon know about any illness you may have before your surgery. This includes COVID-19, a cold, flu, fever, herpes outbreak, or other illness. If you do get sick, your surgery may need to be postponed.

On the day of surgery:

• Follow instructions about when to stop eating and drinking.
• Take the medicines your surgeon told you to take with a small sip of water.
• Follow instructions on when to arrive at the hospital. Be sure to arrive on time.

After surgery, your health care team will monitor your breathing, blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate. Many people can go home within 24 hours.

Most people recover quickly and completely. The average hospital stay is 2 to 3 days. It's likely you can slowly begin a regular diet in a few weeks.

Lau ISF, Chan FKL, Lau JYW. Peptic ulcer disease. In: Chung RT, Rubin DT, Wilcox CM, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 55.

Sasha Mahvi DA, Mahvi DM. Stomach. In: Tyler DS, Hayes-Dixon A, Hines OJ, et al, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 86.

Last reviewed on: 9/30/2024

Jonas DeMuro, MD, Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery with added Qualifications in Surgical Critical Care, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.